Meanwhile, the newspaper is also reporting that a retired Albany police officer waited 14 minutes for an ambulance on Saturday while dying from a heart attack. Mohawk counters that they had to wait 11 minutes take Jorge Parson, 50, to the hospital once they arrived at the scene.

16 Responses

It is rediculous that Albany citizens have to wait for an ambulance to come from Troy. Are there no local ambulance services? Who thought it was a good idea to award a contract to another city service?. Hmmmm— Jennings perhaps?

Ah so this is NEW news? Maybe a search of the TU stories over the years may reveal more or similar stories since the 1960’s…

When is Albany going to get smart and have the Fire Department take over Paramedic services… Couldn’t or wouldn’t 4 Unit serve the entire City on a 24/7/365 day schedule, same shifts and hours as the Firemen..

Maybe the City could rehabilitate many of the Firehouses they have allowed to become run down and fall into disrepair and make good use of them again….and maybe bring some Civic Pride back into the City…

I believe their are a number of Companies who build Ambulances with Fire Fighting Capabilities for handling Vehicle Accidents instead of responding a Truck, a Pumper and a Medic Unit… All kinds of ideas out there….

Now just why doesn’t that happen Mmmmm.

Now what could be the answer to that question other than increasing the Fire Budget…Mmmmm that would be an interesting story…. Do a comparative Study… Many cities around the Country found they could make big bucks off of running their own Paramedic Ambulance service versus a private Company… Now why wouldn’t Albany, one of the nations Oldest Fire Departments not want to do that… Mmmmmm… New York, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Franfreakshow, Chi town, all the Big Cities have them for a good reason, they make money, and the Response Times are as good or better than a Fire Trucks who often respond at the same time… The Citzens in need wouldn’t have to compete with the need versus Transport Services that I believe are the Bread and Butter of most Ambulance services…

All paramedics in the city of Albany or fire department medics. There is alot to this story that people dont understand. Mohawk ambulance is not always automatically dispatched when the fire department is dispatched. Many times, the fire department calls for them after they arrive on the scene. No one ever talks about the times when the ambulance crew is held up on scene because they are waiting for the medics to do something that could be done at the hospital better. For example, I remember while working for mohawk, sitting behind the steering wheel while the fire medic was trying to start an IV on the drive way of the VA hospital. THE FREAKIN DRIVEWAY!!!! As well as the ramp to Albany med, I have been asked to stop the ambulance so they medic can go for his 2nd-4th intubation attempt when they have a respiratory therepist waiting in the ER so they can tube the patient. It seems very easy to blame Mohawk ambulance when I have witnessed, along with many other mohawk ambulances employees, albany fire KILL a patient because they did not know the protocol, or gave to many drugs, or wanted to start an IV, or wanted to intubate, or wanted to keep shocking, or wanted to do something that could have been done better inside the hospital, not in the drive way.

Disclaimer: There are a very few medics that actually know what they are doing, and of those medics, they are the most professional and courteous of the bunch. It is easier to remember all the screw-ups than everything that was done right.

I am an Albany taxpayer and have been for many years in one of Albany’s fine neighborhoods.

Let’s call this what it is, an attempt by members of the albany fire union to capitalize on a tragedy to push their public jobs agenda. It is no secret that the Albany fire dept is down jobs. The union leaders are hiding behind innuendo and anonymous tips.

20,000 thousand calls from this ambulance company over the past year and 1/2 and the fire union has 4 memoes? 4!!!!!!!!!! not 400!!

The Times Union’s own credibility is at question here with these headlines and story placements. It’s a disgrace.

Mohawk’s EMT’s are paid a pittance for what they do. The liklihood is that they receive the minimum training the state requires to maintain their certification. More training takes away from the bottom line, you know. The NYSDOH and NYSED should be taking a close look at the standards set for private ambulance and medical van operators. Obviously, something is really wrong with the entire system of health related transit.

Commie1- I completely agree with you! I know someone that used to work for Mohawk and at one time was standing outside in the rain waiting for the fire department to let him in the house to get the patient, for 10 minutes! I think Albany Fire has to take a good look at themselves also.

Based on what I’m reading here and in the newspaper, I hope I never have a medical emergency while in the city of Albany. Due to my current health problems I will avoid the city unless it is an absolute necessity (i.e. when I have to go to my specialist’s office for an appointment). I live in East Greenbush where the EMT’s are all volunteers. In the last three years they’ve saved my life and one of my legs on separate occassions. Needless to say I’m a bit biased but, the East Greenbush volunteer EMT’s are the best! Politics and union issues have no business being a part of the conversation when someones life is on the line.

PS – On one occassion, when my local EMT’s were occupied with another call, a Mohawk abulance was dispatched to respond. They did a fine job.

Just to correct you, Most of the EMT’s and Paramedics at Bruen Rescue Squad are paid now. Another internal struggle with who wants to be in power is killing the spirit of those who do and have volunteered there in the past. I am sure that it will not be long before the TU does a story on somewort of coruption there.

No need to jump off and do anything rash like getting rid of Mohawk.T t sounds to me like the best solution is for Mohawk to increase the number of Ambulances servicing Albany to 5, or leave the 4 and pull in a truck from somewhere else when they need to do transports.

Mohawk ambulance has always fulfilled the contract, thats what the Mayor and The Fire Department won’t tell you. They have on the amount of rigs that the contract calls for, no one wants to hear the truth in this matter and that is the fact that the city does not want to pay for more ambulances than what they already have. MAS DID NOTHING WRONG ! But the Mayor decided to run off at the mouth before looking into the contract FIRST. Here’s another idea to the residents of albany, stop calling the ambulance for stubbed toes. the welfare rats caused that delay, not the service. and what is perhaps the most disgusting thing I am seeing is the idiot residents are yelling at the ambulance crews working in the streets. THAT IS WRONG ! ! Those guys can only do one call at a time and it is not their fault. TRUTH BE TOLD, ALBANY RESIDENTS ARE TO BLAME STOP ABUSING THE SYSTEM !